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While speaking to Dar, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stressed Moscow’s readiness to contribute to a political settlement of the situation triggered by the Pahalgam attack.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (File photo: PTI)
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on Sunday, offering assistance in facilitating a political settlement to the standoff sparked by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement, both sides specifically discussed the dangerously growing tensions between India and Pakistan. Lavrov stressed its readiness to contribute to a political settlement of the situation triggered by the Pahalgam attack, “should both Islamabad and New Delhi be interested.”
According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry, Lavrov stressed the importance of diplomacy to resolve issues and emphasised that both sides should exercise restraint and avoid escalation.
This came a day after Lavrov spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the recent escalation in tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalagam attack. The EAM said that the perpetrators of the attack must be brought to justice.
The two leaders also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels. “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov of Russia yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice. Also spoke about our bilateral cooperation activities,” Jaishankar posted on X.
This conversation was among a series of phone calls by India to several nations since the terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists and exposed Pakistan’s role in the barbaric attack. Countries like Iran and Malaysia have offered to mediate and supported calls for an independent investigation.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the deadly terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22, and in view of cross-border links. The Resistance Front, or TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot with a bloody history, is believed to be behind the attack. Pakistan has denied responsibility for the attack.
India on Saturday imposed a ban on the import of goods coming from or transiting through Pakistan and also the entry of Pakistani ships into its ports, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is committed to taking “firm and decisive” action against terrorists and their backers.
The United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss the rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the latter said it would raise New Delhi’s “aggressive actions and provocations”, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
- First Published:
